Music-leaf turner.



Nu.` 653,731. Patented .luly I7, |900. S.. CUNNINGHAM. muslo LEAFv TURNER.

(Application led May 1, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEWART CUNNINGHAM, OE TURTLE CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSIC-LEAF4 TURNER.

SPECIFICATXQN forming part of Letters :Patent No. 653,7 31, dated July 17, 1900.l

Application filed May l, 1900. Serial No. 15,043. (No model.)

O @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, STEWART CUNNINGHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Turtle Creek, in the county of Allef gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Leaf Turners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specilication.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in music-leaf turners.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and practical device for turning the leaves of sheet-music by a foot-pedal, thereby allowing the musician the free use of both hands in performing upon the instrument.

I accomplish my object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the ratchetand-dog mechanism for turning the frames. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the frames. Fig. 5 is an inverted edge view of a portion of the frames. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a portion of the main frame.

In the drawings similar detail parts are designated by numerals of like character, in which- The numeral l designates the main frame of the device, is constructed of metal, and is provided with the lugs 2 and feet 3. The numeral 4 designates a shaft loosely fitted into openings in said lugs and is provided at its upper end with a nut 5 and at its lower end with a fixed disk 6, having a ratchet-wheel '7 formed or secured thereon. A sheet-metal plate 8 is secured to the lower edge of the main frame at the right-hand side. This frame extends over beneath the ratchet-wheel and is provided with an opening to loosely engage over the shaft. The opposite end of this plate is curved downward to form a lip S. Loosely tted within openings in the said disk are the double-headed pins 9, 10, 11, and 12, each of which is provided with a spring 13. Each of these pins is placed at different distances from the center of the disk, so that the pin 9 shall be farther from the center of the disk than the pin 10, tbc. Alever 14 is loosely secured to the lower end of the said vertical shaft 4. This lever is provided with a pawl 15 to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel and is held in engagement therewith bya spring 16. A bell-crank 17 is pivotally attached to the main frame by a pin 18 and is connected at its lower end to the pawl-lever by a rod 19. The opposite end of the crank is connected to the frame by a retractive sprin g 2O and to a suitable foot-pedal by a rod 21. Leaf-turning frames 22, 23, 24, and 25 are loosely hinged to the said vertical shaft 4. Within the lower edge of the said frames 22, 23, and 24 are formed the openings 26, 27, and 28. These openings, as shown in the several views, are all of the same depth, but vary in length for the purpose of engaging the pins, as hereinafter described.

The sheet-music is secured to the frames by suitable clamps and then turned to the right in the positions shown in the drawings. When it is desired to turn over the first leaf and frame to the left, the operator presses downward upon the foot-pedal and then re= leases the same. The pressing down of the pedal causes the mechanism to rotate the disk one-fonrthrevolution. Duringthequarter-revolution of the disk the pin 9 will pass through the openings in the lower edge of the frames 22, 23, and 24 and engage the first frame, thereby throwing the same over to the left side. When the pedal is pressed to throw over the next leaf, the pin 10 engages the next frame 24, thereby throwing that frame to the left. The next pressure of the pedal will cause the pin 11 to engage and throw over the frame 23, and when the pedal is again pressed the pin 12 will engage and throw over the last frame. As the disk advances each pin will pass off the plate 8 at the front and descend by the action of the springs, so as to pass beneath the frames on the left, and as they come into engagement with the lip on the other side of the plate at the rear they again ride up upon the plate in position to engage the frames as the disk ro tates.

lf desired, the device may be secured to a piano or organ by means of the feet 3 or to a tripod.

Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a music-leaf turner, the combination with the mein traine having an upright rod arranged at its center ufithleef-turniug rfunes crank pivotelly secured to said main frame, a rod connecting the one end of said bellerzrnk with the pzrwl-lever, a rod connecting the other end of said crank with a foot-pedal, and e spring 2() Connected to the pedal-rod end of said crank and the frame, all arranged and combined to operate as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto affixed mysignatu re in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEXVART CUNNINGHAM,

lVitnesses:

R. S. HARRISON, JAS. J. MCAFEE. 

